NASA researchers identified a new planetary system by examining data gathered during the Kepler space telescope’s operation from 2009 through 2018. The findings appeared in a prominent astronomy journal.
Named Kepler-385, the system centers on a sunlike star about 10 percent larger and 5 percent hotter than the Sun. Surrounding this star are seven orbiting worlds that catch the eye of researchers.
Careful analysis indicates the two planets nearest the star are somewhat larger than Earth and are likely to harbor thin atmospheres. The remaining five worlds are each roughly twice the size of Earth and possess much thicker atmospheres. Given that every body in the Kepler-385 system receives more stellar energy per unit area than any planet in our own solar system, the prospects for life as it is known seem unlikely.
Kepler’s initial mission concluded in 2013, followed by an extended phase known as K2, which continued until 2018. The data collected by Kepler continue to yield new questions about the cosmos and the structure of our galaxy.
Historically, astronomers have estimated that there are more than half a million stars in the Milky Way yet to be discovered, a reminder of how much remains to be learned about our home galaxy.